Log barge

ABSTRACT

A log barge includes a load-supporting deck comprising a plurality of adjacent deck sections, each of which is curved to present a depression extending longitudinally and parallel to the vessel centerline. Load securing lines extending transversely of the deck are disposed over a log load placed upon the deck and motor-driven winches maintain the thus disposed lines under a predetermined tension whereby the lines are self-tightening as individual logs shift during transport and are urged to settle more compactly within said depressions.

United States Patent 11 1 Lunde 1 1 LOG BARGE [76] Inventor: ThomasTrygve Lunde, 1045 Sansome St., San Francisco, Calif. 94] I l 22 Filed:Sept. 21, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 182,427

[52] 11.8. CI. 114/27, 114/73 51 Int. Cl B63b 35 30 [58] Field of Search..114/2627, 72-73 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,356,05812/1967 Lunde 114 27 I FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 917,051 8 1954Germany 114/73 1451 Sept. 11, 1973 822,215 1l/I95l Germany 114/73Primary Examiner-Milt0n Buchler Assistant Examiner-Stephen G. KuninAtt0rney-Ernory L. Groff et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A log barge includes a load-supporting deck comprising aplurality of adjacent deck sections, each of which is curved to presenta depression extending longitudinally and parallel to the vesselcenterline. Load securing lines extending transversely of the deck aredis posed over a log load placed upon the deck and motordriven winchesmaintain the thus disposed lines under a predetermined tension wherebythe lines are selftightening as individual logs shift during transportand are urged to settle more compactly within said depress1ons.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIED im 3.757. 124

SHEEI 2 0F 2 MOTOR\\ WITH IRESSuRs sznsmq -21 DEVICE 11 HHIHUHW "nu!!!11 M @VENTOR THOMAS TRYGVE LUNDE Y .4 w) l- 5- ATTORNEY LOG BARGE Thisinvention relates generally to a buoyant transportation vessel, and moreparticularly to a coastal and seagoing vessel especially adapted toserve as a log barge.

Many efforts in the past to provide a seagoing vessel suitable for thesafe transport of logs have been quite unsatisfactory, as evidenced bythe significant number of accidents occurring during instances of roughseas. It has been found that merely providing additional bracing andsecuring lines is inadequate when considering the significant forcesexhibited by the shifting of a sizeable log load, which problem ismagnified due to the irregular configuration of the individual logscomprising the load.

By the present invention, an improved log barge is provided having aload supporting deck surface constructed with a particular configurationadapted to utilize the effect of a shifting log load to advantage,

whereupon such shifting will actually lead to a more compact dispositionof the logs. This is achieved by constructing the deck surface as awhole along a major catenary curve extending transversely between thevessel hull sides so as to provide a general depression having itslowest point disposed adjacent the centerline of the barge. Thisgenerally depressed deck surface in turn comprises a plurality ofadjacent deck plates or sections, each of which preferably defines aminor catenary curve, likewise extending transversely of the deck,whereby a plurality of parallel adjacent depressed areas are providedthroughout the extent of the deck surface. Although the arrangementillustrated herein reflects a major catenary curve and a plurality ofminor catenary curves, it will be understood that alternative geometricconfigurations may be employed to provide a constantly variable surfaceconfiguration as will be referred to hereinafter. Abutment means areprovided along both sides of the deck and define a load areatherebetween into which the logs are initially placed and suitable loadsecuring linesare thereafter thrown over the top of the log load tocontain the logs within the load area. I

An additional feature of the present invention includes the provision ofautomatic means for constantly maintaining a predetermined tension uponthe load securing lines as the log load shifts so that thecrosssectional area of the load is, in effect, compacted as the bargepitches and rolls during transport. This means includes pressure sensingdevices associated with the load securing lines, whereby as slack occursand the tension of any single line falls below the predetermined level,motor means associated with the particular winch to which the line issecured is activated in order to take up the slack of the line until theminimum pre-selected tension is achieved. In view of the above-describedconstruction, it will be appreciated that lateral motion of the loadedlogs will be impossible since the supporting base on which any motionmust occur is provided with a constantly variable surface..In the abovemanner, not only is safe compaction of the log load insured duringtravel of the barge upon rough seas, but also, it will be seen that aminimum tension will at all times be applied to all of the load securinglines to further preclude unwanted displacement of any of the logs beingtransported.

Self-dumping of the load of the present log barge is achieved by meansof a self-bailing trim tank provided adjacent one side of the bargehull. The dumping of the load load is facilitated by the use ofremovable abutment means on the hull side adjacent the trim tank wherebyit will be appreciated that upon removal of these temporary posts andflooding of the adjacent trim tank, thehull will be rolled in thedirection of the flooding trim tank to permit dumping of the load bygravity over the side of the deck.

Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the present invention is toprovide an improved log barge havcurved transversely to provide adepressed area.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved logbarge including a load supporting deck having a plurality of curved decksections, each of which defines a minor catenary curve and all of whichare mounted upon cross beams defining a major catenary curve.

Still another object of the present invention isto provide a log bargeincluding a downwardly curved load supporting deck bound along one sideby a plurality of fixed abutment means and bounded along the other sideby a plurality of removable abutment means and including load securinglines spanning the area between both abutment means and tensioned byautomatically actuated power winch means.

With these and other objects in view which will more readily appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the invention consistsin the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of theinvention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side'elevation of the log barge of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the log barge of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line.3-3 of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the self-dumpingoperation of the log load.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of one of the automatic winches of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of the winch drum of FIG. 5.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several figures of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1-3, the log barge ofthe present invention will be seen to include a hull, generallydesignated I-I, having a substantially planar bottom 1 and verticalsides 2--2. The exact configuration of the bowand stern of the barge isnot as critical in carrying out the present invention as is theconstruction of the loadsupporting deck, generally designated D. Asshown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, this deck Dencompassessubstantially the entire area between the uppermost portionsof the hull sides 22 from a point immediatelyaft of the bow of the bargeto a point just short of the stern thereof.

thrown over the log load to retain the load as shown in FIGS. 1-3. Witha conventional load supporting'deck, it has been found from experiencethat regardless of the amount of tension applied to the load securinglines, the log load will undergo a significant lateral shifting,especially during high seas, with the result that the cross-sectionalarea encompassed by the log load will vary, usually with a reduction inthe occupied crosssectional area of the log load. With the foregoing inmind, it will be appreciated that the thus slackened load securing linesproduce an extremely dangerous situation and the subsequent pitching androlling of the barge will often lead to a loss of a part of or theentire log load at sea. By' the present invention, a unique deckconstruction has been provided which includes an arrangement whereby anadvantage is made of the inherent shifting of the individual logs L sothat a more compact loading is achieved without danger of lateral motionof the logs on the deck or a load loss at sea. This deck construction iscoupled with means for automatically self-tightening the load securinglines 5 during the formation of a more compact log load to precludeunwanted shifting of individual logs L and further encourage the desiredformation of a more compact load.

The aforementioned deck construction is shown most clearly in FIG. 3,herein it will be seen that the principal supporting structure for thedeck forming elements comprises a plurality of cross beams 6, each ofwhich extends transversely of the hull between the upper portions of thetwo sides 2-2 thereof and are arranged in parallel spaced apartmannerfrom the bow section to the stern section. Aswill be noted in thisFigure, each cross beam 6 is not astraight member, but rather is curvedin the manner of a major catenary curve extending from the two sides ofthe hull so that a single smooth concave upper surface 7 is formedthereon having an irregular curvature. Attached to the upper surface 7of the cross beam 6 are a plurality of laterally spaced apart andparallel longitudinal support beams 8 having their axes parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the barge hull and which are preferably equispacedfrom oneanother. Spanning the distance between the top of each adjacentpair of longitudinal beams 8 is a curved deck section or plate 9 whichdefines a minor catenary curve. Each of the curved deck plates 9 forms aportion of the overall load supporting deck D, and it is the veryconcavity of the upper surface 10 of each section 9 that encourages theretention of the log loadand precludes unwanted lateral motion in viewof the non-constant curvature of the surfaces 10. This feature will bereadily understood when one realizes .that aconstant downward force isbeing directed to the deck D not only by the weight of the supportedlogs themselves, but also by the constant tension being applied to thelogs by the load securing lines 5. Thus, it will follow that as theindividual logs in the interior of the load mass are shifted duringpitching and rolling of the barge, each of the logs will be urged toseek the lowest, most compact level both within the intermediate area ofthe log load as well as immediately adjacent the upper log supportingsurfaces 10 of the plurality of deck plates 9. As pointed out earlier,the mass of the log load follows the major curve as defined by the crossbeams 6 while simultaneously each log L in contact with the deck followsthe minor curves defined by plates 9.

It is to be understood that the term curved" or curvature when referringto the line defined by both the upper surface 7 of the cross beams 6 aswell as the surfaces 10 of the plates 9, should not be construed asruling out any analogous configuration not employing curved structuralelements. Similar major and minor deck deformations may be formed toprovide configurations which are not of constant curvature by the use ofa series of straight lines.

The previously mentioned abutment means 3 and 4 along the two side edgesof the deckD are provided to initially assist in the loading of the logload and serve subsequently to provide additional lateral support to theloaded logs in the form of non-yielding abutment means. The abutmentmeans 4 provided along one side edge of the deck D, for example thestarboard side as shown in FIG. 3, comprises a plurality of fixed posts,each of which includes a lower upright section 11 and an upper angledsection 12, the tip 13 of which will be seen to be inclined inwardlytoward the centerline of the deck D. The abutment means 3 located alongthe opposite or port side of the deck D comprises a plurality oftemporary posts, each of which may comprise a log itself which isadapted to be removably inserted within an angled socket 14 extendingthrough the deck and side 2 of the hull. Considering the two abutmentmeans 3 and 4, it will be seen that both types of posts provide upwardlyprojecting elements which are inclined inwardly toward the log load andextend to a height which is approximately one-half of a full log load.

The aforementioned load securing lines 5 preferably comprise wire ropeadapted to be tensioned by powered winches, generally designated W, andassociated with each of the fixed posts 4. The lines are thrown over thefull log load such as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings followingattachment of one free end to a guard and securing plate 15 providedadjacent each of the temporary post sockets 14. Slackening of the lines5 is precluded during subsequent shifting of the log load if a constanttension is maintained upon these lines 5. This tension is achieved bythe arrangement shown most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings.Each winch assembly W is preferably mounted within the confines of eachfixed post 4. By mounting the winch upon the top of the upright section11 and between the side plates 16-16 of the angled section 12, it willbe apparent that the winch will be protected against damage from thelogs L during loading, transport or dum ping. of the barge.

Each winch W includes a drum 17 adapted to receive a portion of the line5 between an outside flange 18 and an inside ratchet wheel 19. The linesare of a length sufficientto pass over the top of a maximum log load andinclude any suitable fastening means 5a on the ends opposite the endsanchored to the plates 15, which fastening means are adapted to beremovably attached to the drum l7. Rotary displacement is imparted tothe drum 17 by means of a hydraulic winch motor 20 adapted to receiveits power from any suitable power driven hydraulic pump (not shown).Alternatively, air motors,

electrical constant torque motors or stroking cylinders may be used toconstantly exert a preselected torque upon each winch drum 17. Suitablemeans are provided to rigidly mount the winch assembly such as the winchsupports 21-2l shown anchored to the top of the upright section 11.Joumalled through one of the winch supports 21 is a suitable lock andrelease mechanism comprising a spring or gravity actuated pawl 22located adjacent the periphery of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 19 anda release lever 23 fixedly attached to the other end of the latch rod24. To provide suitable access to the winch assembly in order to serviceand operate the same, each of the fixed posts 4 may be provided withladder rungs 25 both on the exterior of the upright section 11 as wellas the angle section 12 while through passage forthe barge operators isprovided by means of the open arch 26 formed in each side of the uprightsection 11.

The loading and self-dumping sequence of operations a will now bereviewed. First, suitable temporary posts 3 are inserted in each of thesockets 14 extending throughout the length of the load supporting deck Dwhereafter the bundles of logs L are then loaded upon the upper logsupporting surfaces of the curved deck plates 9 comprising the loadsupporting deck D. The individual logs may be loaded in a manner toprovide a single mass log load, or, on the other hand, may be loaded inlots defining separate log loads as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of thedrawings. Upon attainment of the desired loading, each individual loadsecuring line 5 is positioned transversely of the load as shown in FIG.3 from the securing plate 15 and over a pulley 27 located adjacent thetip 13 of the fixed post 4 to the winch W whereupon the free end of theline 5 is attached to the drum 17 by way of the fastening means 5a. Whenthe appropriate lines 5 have been thus secured, the associated winchmotors 20 are suitably actuated in order to apply the appropriatepredetermined tension upon each of the lines 5, it being understood thatthe pawls 22 will engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheels 19 of eachwinch W to prevent unwinding of the drum or loosening of the lines 5.

During transport of the log load, the predetermined minimum tensiondesired to be maintained upon each line 5 may be readily achieved bymeans of well known pressure switches disposed within the hydrauliccircuitry serving each winch motor 20. Thus, if the valves leading toeach winch motor 20 are initially set to respond to a normal operatingpressure of 1,500 p.s.i., thence, any time there is a shifting of thelog load and any one of the lines 5 becomes slackened or its tensiondrops below the 1,500 p.s.i. setting, then the appropriate winch motor20 would be activated to wind the associated drum 17 to take up thisslack until the 1,500 p.s.i. tension is again achieved in the line 5. Bythis arrangement, it will be seen that as shifting occurs within the logload,which in view of the described novel deck construction means that amore compact loading is achieved, all of the affected lines 5 will beautomati cally maintained at a constant tension to preclude unwanteddisplacement of the logs located adjacent the outer periphery of the logload area.

When it is desired to dump the log load, either the entire loading onthe barge or merely one or more individual lots thereon, the appropriateadjacent temporary posts 3 are removed. This may be accomplished bydriving the bottom of each temporary post 3 upwardly from the lower openportion of its socket 14, or by sawing off the upwardly projectingportion of the temporary post flush with the adjacent upper decksurface, in which case, of course, the remaining stub located in thesocket 14 will have to be subsequently removed prior to re-loading ofthe log barge. Next, it is necessary to disconnect or remove the lines 5from the position shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. In order todisconnect the winch end of each line 5 from its attachment to the drum,it is necessary to first relieve the tension under which the line 5 isbeing subjected. This is most readily accomplished by re-setting thevalving controlling the affected winch motors 20 so that a highertension is applied to the lines, for example 3,000 p.s.i., whereupon asthe lines 5 are thence stretched, the ratchet pawls 22 may be released,and then all of the tension may be released upon the lines 5 so that thedrum may be unwound to permit automatic release of the line fasteningmeans. Self-dumping of the log load is then possible in view of theinclusion of a suitable trim tank T within the hull adjacent the side 2juxtaposed the temporary post sockets 14. As the trim tank T is flooded,the barge will tilt as shown in FIG. 4, and the released logs L willroll by gravity into the adjacent water where they become readilyaccessible for subsequent handling. By employing either pumps or aself-bailing trim tank, it will be understood that the barge may be:returned to its normal position following dumping of all of the logsthereon.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the disclosed system forthe fore/aft stowage of logs offers a significant advance overarrangements involving transverse log stowage. Considering that thefore/aft dimension of a vessel is 5-7 times greater than transversedimensions, it will follow that with the subject system, more logs maybe accommodated since logs of various lengths can be stowed end-to-endwith less loss of cubic due to air space. Additionally, with thefore/aft stowage, the logs are rolled off the vessel deck duringdischarge while transversely stowed logs must slide during discharge,the latter requiring a greater angle of inclination before gravityovercomes friction.

I claim:

1. A log transporting vessel comprising, a hull provided with aload-supporting deck. extending substantially between the upper portionof the hull sides and adapted to support a plurality of logs with theirlongitudinal axes parallel to the vessel centerline, abutment meansprojecting upwardly from the outer edges of said deck adjacent the hullsides and defining a log load area therebetween, said deck including aplurality of laterally adjacent curved sections with the curvaturethereof extending transversely of said hull whereby each said sectiondefines an upwardly facing depression, means supporting said adjacentcurved sections to define a major catenary curve extending substantiallyfrom one hull side tothe other hull side whereby the lowest point ofsaid major catenary curve is disposed adjacent the vessel centerline,and'securing means extendable over said load area from opposite sidesthereof to maintain tension upon logs contained within the load area.

2. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein, each said adjacent curvedsection defines a minor catenary curve. I

3. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein said abutment means adjacentone hull side includes a plurality of rigidly attached posts.

6. A vessel according to claim 5 wherein, said winch means includes aplurality of winches each provided with a line drum and a motor, andsaid motors include pressure sensing means actuated by the tension ofsaid lines to operate said motors and maintain a predetermined tensionupon said lines as the logs contained within said load area shift.

I! I l

1. A log transporting vessel comprising, a hull provided with aload-supporting deck extending substantially between the upper portionof the hull sides and adapted to support a plurality of logs with theirlongitudinal axes parallel to the vessel centerline, abutment meansprojecting upwardly from the outer edges of said deck adjacent the hullsides and defining a log load area therebetween, said deck including aplurality of laterally adjacent curved sections with the curvaturethereof extending transversely of said hull whereby each said sectiondefines an upwardly facing depression, means supporting said adjacentcurved sections to define a major catenary curve extending substantiallyfrom one hull side to the other hull side whereby the lowest point ofsaid major catenary curve is disposed adjacent the vessel centerline,and securing means extendable over said load area from opposite sidesthereof to maintain tension upon logs contained within the load area. 2.A vessel according to claim 1 wherein, each said adjacent curved sectiondefines a minor catenary curve.
 3. A vessel according to claim 1 whereinsaid abutment means adjacent one hull side includes a plurality ofrigidly attached posts.
 4. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein, saidabutment means includes a plurality of fixedly attached posts adjacentone hull side and a plurality of removably attached posts adjacent theother hull side.
 5. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein, said securingmeans comprises a plurality of flexible lines, winch means adjacent onehull side about which said lines are wound, and anchor means adjacentthe other hull side for attachment of the free ends of said lines.
 6. Avessel according to claim 5 wherein, said winch means includes aplurality of winches each provided with a line drum and a motor, andsaid motors include pressure sensing means actuated by the tension ofsaid lines to operate said motors and maintain a predetermined tensionupon said lines as the logs contained within said load area shift.